REVIEW

If you’re on the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, perhaps enjoying a pizza at Grimaldi’s, followed by ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, why not make it a triumvirate of treats by taking a stroll over to Jacques Torres Chocolate in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, that area of Brooklyn between the two bridges).

Jacques Torres, the world-class pastry chef turned master chocolatier, has a whimsicality that he expresses through his chocolate creations. Some of the playful items you’re likely to find here include milk chocolate-coated Cheerios, a caramel/rum sauce called Body Butter, and ice-cold hot chocolate. The iced hot chocolate is particularly noteworthy, a blenderized combination of his packaged hot chocolate mix with ice, resulting in a frothy, bittersweet, and surprisingly refreshing and invigorating beverage.

Boxes of chocolates from Jacques Torres make a perfect gift, even if the recipient is yourself.

There is a counter where someone will help you build your own gift boxes of chocolates piece-by-gorgeous-piece. Select from flavors such as Love Potion #9, Alizé Hearts of Passion, Wicked Fun, Ménage a Trois, and Love Bug (flavor translations available at the counter). Yes, chocolate is the food of love, and these are sure to do the trick, even if you favor the less steamily-named bonbons. Whatever you choose, the unusual flavors are pure and true, and the prices are surprisingly reasonable for chocolates of this quality and pedigree.